The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-02-19


was carried against him with a sort OF cur
rent. We were square across his nose, ana
could not have even seen his eyes, even had
it been daylight and clear day. His big
head lowered above US like a ships side.
and the odor was something TO make US
gasp and choke. The boat hung across his
nose for a minute or more, and then the
swell worked the bow around, and We
drifted right alongside the fellow his entire
length, rubbing him all the time, but not
arousing him. II was only when We were
clear OF his hukes that We dared 10 breathe.
Had Inc opened his mouth as we lay against
his hose We should have been sucked in like
chip in mill race. Had he given his
under jaw a fling he could have smashed
the boat like egg shell, and left those OF
US who ESCAPED injury to be eaten by the
sharks.
After escaping this whale we got into
clear water again and had a consultation
There were men in our boat much Older
than the mate, and he had TIE good sense to
consult them. You may have read OF how
easily whales are CALLED or frightened,
and have wondered that we didn't sound
some alarm TO scare them off. Firstly, in
reply to this, the whales had not yet seen
Us, and If We made noise they might take
it into their heads TO investigate. Whales
have attacked ships and boats and RATS
without the slightest provocation- Sec
ondly, our safety would depend on how they
went away if alarmed. If they started off
with a rush, as was likely, some one of them
would run us down If they sounded, As
was also likely, it was hardly possible that
we could escape the swing of soma fellows
fiukes, or ride out the turmoil which they
would kick up. 1t was, therefore, decided to
remain as we were, and the oars were care
fully drawn on board, and the mate used a
paddle over the stern TO keep the boat from
drifting about. She was headed On to what
sea there was, and was, of course, driving
astern all the time. 1t hardly ten
minutes before drifted plump against a
third whale, striking him near the hump.
He slowed himself part way round in a lazy
manner, and the boat went clear of him,
every man feeling that he was over pow
der magazine. The night had now come
on, and just after got clear of the whale
the breeze began to sharpen up and to drive
through the fog. 1t did not seem to take
five minutes to scatter it, and as the rem
nants were whirling about us the mate
lighted the lantern and passed ii along to
the bows What became of the school of
whales is more than any of us could tell
that is, while we suddenly found them gone,
no man had heard much the move of
a fin. Whether IL was some sound from
the boat, the sight of our light or the
knowledge that a gale was piping up that
sent the leviathans softly away can only
be guessed at, but we were thankful lot
of men to be rid of them. The rule on
board of a whaler is to keep every boat pro-
vided with a breaker of water a compass,
lantern. signal flags, a quantity of eatables,
a flask of whisky, and some rockets and
candles, for signaling at night. This rule
is supposed to be invariable, and | have seen
a mate broken and disgraced because his
boat found short of her outfit. We
now began Overhauling for our rockets and
cIndles, but not one was to be found. The
lamp III the lantern began to burn dimly,
and We found that had no can of
spare oil We were all right on the other
things, but just what were short of
might cost our lives. By that time the
ship had certainly passed US and gone to the
west in her search for the boat and even
while We We're figuring this out she sent up
two rockets and burned red fire to give US
her location. She was about four miles to
windward, having worked past during
the fog. \ couple of rockets to answer her
would have got us aboard within an hour,
but even as we cursed the luck which had
deprived US of them the light in the lantern
died away, and our last hope was gone.
well, lads" called the mate, as no
slowed the boats head three four points,
lit may take little longer, but We'll get
aboard i'll due time The old ship won't
desert us and as long as she throws up sig
mails we shall know which way to pull.
Now, out with the oars, and give US "a
chorus to go home on"
Ii will seem to you that IL our ship WAS
only three or four miles To windward, and
.saking short boards from north to south to
cover a track not more than a mile wide,
and all the time sending up signals, it
wouldn't be much of u feat to intercept
her. Two things rendered the case doubt
full. The breeze was coming up 50 strong
and the waves running 50 ugly that We must
soon lie 10 with drag or be swamped. The
captain would be on the watch for our sig
mails, and getting none in reply would ex-
tend his search, thus widening Nhe distance.
After midnight he would almost be justified
III believing our boat lost. Each man rea-
soned it out i'll about this way for himself
as he pulled at his oar, and no one was sur
prised when Mr.. Converse began to pre-
pare drag. After 1t was veered overheard
and the boat trimmed she took less water,
but little bailing had 10 be done all the
time, and not one OF US had a dry thread
to his back. a bite of food was again
served out, and the men were told to make
themselves as comfortable as they could,
but with the spray flying over US, the
boat climbing and falling and lurching, and
the feeling that we might be cut of from
the ship altogether, no one closed his eyes
through the long night. Three times, at
long intervals. We caught the signals
thrown out for us The last time the ship
was not over a mile away, and the red
fire burned up we could make out hull and
mast and sails. She still To windward,
and our voices would not have reached her,
nor did dare change our position.
Luck was. however, with poor Jack for
once, and a strange piece of luck you will
call it. As daylight came, the ship was 50
far To the west OF US that she was only Q
speck ON the sky and water, but the gale
moderated the wind shifted to another
quarter and helped fatten the waves, and
at sun up just after breakfast had been
served ami the flask of spirits had been
passed. a whale rose and spouted within q
cables length of US. Every man yelled
out in chorus. for every eve saw a harpoon